The Buddig house was developed for an extended and close family as a place to gather and relax in a recreational community. The site along a high curving bluff overlooks the marshes and river that border Bluffton, South Carolina. Two defining elements for this home are a large family needing may bedrooms and the owners interest in sailing. The community has strong guidelines for mainly traditional architecture. All of these details were formative in the design.

The heart of this house is the large curving gathering room and porch that follow the bluff and panoramic view of the river. This forms a core that the remaining house wraps around. The structure for this room is a mast and spar design reflective of sailing and the watery view. This structure allowed us to create a single curving window wall along the entire length of the gathering room. The house wrapping around this central room, while containing many other curving elements and details, presents a traditional face to the street and neighboring homes.

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The McMahon house rests on a deep, gently sloping site bordering the marsh and Chechessee Creek in low country South Carolina. The building area on this land suffered from a pine beetle infestation, so while the surroundings were nicely forested, the developable opening was completely barren. The property to the north and south were already built on.

The concept for McMahon was to spread the house across the site in an “H” shape to expand the frontage and allow for views up and down the river. The entry and view side courtyard areas defined by the house become private gardens. Tree scale, landscaping, and outdoor living space revitalize the formerly barren site. Dormer windows along the close side boundaries allow welcome light while remaining private from adjoining neighbors. Careful layering of the garden entry and river side terrace garden maintain a seamless connection to the land and original undamaged habitat.